Review: Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)

Over the past year, I've heavily relied on Google's Nest Hub Max in the kitchen. This 10-inch smart display has helped me remember important ingredients while I cooked, and it's entertained me with music as I waited for the water to boil. I've enjoyed my time with it so much that when Google unveiled a new version of its 7-inch Nest Hub, I was excited to see if bringing it into my bedroom could upgrade my sleep too.

Sleep Sensing is the hot new feature in Google's smaller smart display. As the name suggests, it can monitor your sleep—without the need for a camera—and offers suggestions to improve sleep quality. I love pulling my weighted blanket over me and relaxing for the night, but sleep doesn't always come easy. I toss and turn, my allergies block my nose from breathing normally, and my mind recalls an awkward memory from years past. 

After more than a month with the second-generation Nest Hub on my nightstand, I can't say I've slept any better, but it has enlightened me to a few sleep habits I wasn't aware of.

The new Nest Hub can do everything its predecessor could do. That includes playing movies and music, walking you through recipes, cycling through your photos, controlling smart home devices, and answering all your Google Search queries. There's not much new in this department, except for the various Assistant-related updates Google typically rolls out in a year.

Visually, you'll hardly notice a difference. It comes in a few new colors, like “mist,” a pale blue, and Google says it's made of 54 percent recycled plastic. If you've tried other Google smart displays, you know exactly what you're getting here. 

The first Nest Hub, originally called the Google Home Hub, didn't have a camera, and neither does the new one; I like that. I never use the video chat function on my Nest Hub Max, though it can be useful if you already use Duo, Google's default video chat app on Android phones. But considering this Nest Hub is meant for the bedroom, one of the most private places of the home, I'm glad the camera didn't make an appearance.  

There are now three far-field microphones instead of two, and I haven't had any issues with it picking up my commands. The speaker has been slightly improved as well, and for something that sits on the nightstand, it's pretty good! But it's not going to be my first choice for DJing a party.

The 7-inch screen itself isn't any different, and unfortunately, performance hasn't improved all that much either over the first-gen model. It always takes a second or two to trigger actions after I've tapped the screen. This is a problem with the larger Nest Hub Max as well. They're all just a bit laggy. It's still just as compact as before though. It should easily fit on most bedside tables with room for other items like your phone and a glass of water.  

One particular feature I like is Sunrise Alarms, where the Nest Hub's screen will slowly brighten in the morning instead of jolting you awake with a loud buzz. It's a feature Google introduced earlier this year to previous Nest Hub devices, so you don't need the latest model to access it. And, of course, like all smart speakers, you can use sounds to lull yourself to sleep. (My partner, unfortunately, does not like to sleep to the sound of a faux thunderstorm.)

What is an upgrade over the original is the ability to wave your hand to turn off standard alarms and timers—handy when there's no Snooze button to smash. You'll need to set up these smart gestures beforehand, but it's worthwhile. 

It's nice using the Nest Hub to turn off the lights without lifting a finger, but the big new feature here is Sleep Sensing. It's free for the first year but will eventually require a subscription. There's no word on what it will cost, but it may be a perk under Fitbit Premium. (Google owns Fitbit as of January 2021).

Sleep Sensing is powered by Google's Soli chip, which uses radar to visualize what's in front of it. This is what enables the smart display to recognize your hand wave to pause alarms. It debuted on other devices like the Google Pixel 4, but this is the first time Google is utilizing it to measure sleep. Once you've positioned the Nest Hub on your nightstand to face your side of the bed, it will detect when you've gotten under the covers and fallen asleep. (It only works for the person closest to the display, so, no, it won't track your partner's sleep.) 

It monitors your respiratory rate while sleeping, and if it's consistently not in a recommended zone, flag it to your physician, as problems can range from heartburn to sleep apnea. It can also track other behaviors like coughing and snoring. The latter made me face the harsh reality that every so often I do let out a snore, which I refused to believe until the screen presented the evidence to my face. (I'm blaming it on my congestion.) When you wake up in the morning, you'll get a basic overview of the night before with some advice, like getting into bed later or earlier. 

But Google seems to have trouble tracking exactly when I'm falling asleep. I'm often in bed for at least an hour scrolling through TikTok or playing Solitaire. Since I'm not actually asleep, each morning Google recommends I get into bed later than I did the night before. If you usually spend some time reading, watching TV, or TikToking on your phone before shutting your eyes, you might want to turn the screen away until you're ready.

Sleep Sensing also tends to pick up my cat's afternoon snoozes, though the tracking doesn't last long enough to mess with my own sleep data. More problematic is that it doesn't take naps into account, so when I take a 45-minute rest in the afternoon, it says I got into bed too early for the night. The software feels like it's in beta—probably why it's free for the first year as Google fine-tunes the experience. 

As is the case with most health-tracking tech products, the Nest Hub is not a replacement for visiting a sleep physician, especially if you suspect you have sleep apnea or any serious sleep condition. It offers minor suggestions, like lowering the temperature in your bedroom or blocking out more light to improve your sleep, but it can't make a medical diagnosis.

To view all of your sleep data, you can either check the smart display or download the Google Fit app. It's a little annoying that you need to download a separate app—why isn't it in the Google Home app I used to set up the Nest Hub? (This is less annoying if you already use Google Fit.) The app's Journal section highlights any midsleep disturbances, and you can see your full sleep history. Plus, it shows more advice than on the display, such as getting in 30 minutes of exercise after waking up. 

So did the Nest Hub quell my sleep woes? No. I still have allergies that make breathing difficult while laying horizontally, and stress keeps my mind awake long after my body has decided it's time to rest. But it gave me good insight into what my nights consist of. It told me what I already knew about my room being too bright—my partner and I have been talking about getting blackout curtains for a year—and it suggests what it thinks is a better schedule to get a full night of sleep. 

It's all helpful information, but ultimately, if you're struggling with sleep, you'll need to make certain lifestyle changes if you want its recommendations to work. If you're just trying to track your sleep, well, it certainly beats wearing a smartwatch to bed.